SEE OFFICIAL STATEMENT BELOW
Benchmade is aware of the recent post from our local Oregon City Police Department.
We apologize for the confusion and concern that this post created. These were firearms that the Oregon City Police Department had to destroy in alignment with their policies. Oregon City Police requested the use of specialty equipment within the Benchmade facility to follow these requirements, and as a supporting partner of our local police force, we obliged the request.
Benchmade is a proud and unwavering supporter of both law enforcement and Second Amendment rights. These are commitments that we do not take lightly and will continue to support well into the future.
When asked for clarity from Oregon City Police Department, Chief Jim Band made the following statement: “When property is to be destroyed, it is the policy of the Oregon City Police Department to destroy property, including firearms, in accordance to our procedures and ORS. The Oregon City Police Department does not sell firearms.”
-Benchmade
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Thanks Troy!
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Yet donates tens of thousands of dollars to anti 2a democrats. Unbelievable.
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bm-edc posted:Yet donates tens of thousands of dollars to anti 2a democrats. Unbelievable.
Yep donations to this guy and other anti-gun politicians.
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Every City has a City Shop to support their maintenance folks who take care of streets, water, etc. Those shops have tools that can destroy firearms. Why not use City Equipment instead of a private business?
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Stop buying Benchmade.
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I mean really, how hard is it for a company to stay out of politics, and if you are going to do it, atleast align your contributions with your customer base.
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Benchmade,
Are you going to continue assisting any entities, be they local, state, or federal, in any manner in the destruction of firearms?
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Maybe I should post a video of myself , destroying some BM knives , that were stolen Not by me, but by a close friend. Seems to be one in the same . If assisting in the destruction of anothers property is the going rate, ill happily refi with another brand.
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Amazing how seriously out of touch they are with their customer base.
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GimpLegs posted:
I mean really, how hard is it for a company to stay out of politics, and if you are going to do it, atleast align your contributions with your customer base.
+1
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Unless the firearms were illegally modified without proper paperwork under the NFA, and/or their serial numbers were filed off by the criminals they were confiscated from, Oregon City PD should sell them to the public to increase their revenue while reducing the tax burden on the population.
I'm extremely disappointed that Benchmade assisted in the destruction of firearms that were potentially able to be auctioned off to the public.
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Would benchmade have done the same if Oregon City PD brought confiscated benchmade knives to be destroyed, solely because it is their policy to do so?
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theredmenace posted:Would benchmade have done the same if Oregon City PD brought confiscated benchmade knives to be destroyed, solely because it is their policy to do so?
Exactly. I fear Benchmade thought that destroying the guns was good PR. Time for a new PR firm.
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It's almost as if someone at Benchmade woke up yesterday and thought "What could we do today to alienate as many customers as possible?"
Someone really screwed the pooch on this one. It's going to cost Benchmade untold sums of money and unfortunately, probably some innocent workers their jobs when production slows drastically.
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A good read...
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I would imagine Benchmade donates money in the interest of knife rights, not gun rights. And wouldn't it make more sense to donate in the attempt to influence those who oppose or are neutral to knife rights? If you're using money to influence politics, why would you give to someone who's already on your side?
I don't get the equivalence between destroying certain firearms and opposing gun rights. If these guns are legally required to be destroyed for any reason, what difference does it make who does it? Why not support their police partners by helping when they can? It's not like if Benchmade had declined the police request for help, the guns would have been "saved" from destruction - that would have just made it more difficult for the police to do what they had to do regardless.
In my opinion, this is much ado about nothing.
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nosuchagency posted:Benchmade,
Are you going to continue assisting any entities, be they local, state, or federal, in any manner in the destruction of firearms?
And how many times have you performed this activity in the past?
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1daven posted:
If you're using money to influence politics, why would you give to someone who's already on your side?
This is where you lost me, unable to read past this point
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Tim O posted:A good read...
“it has a very “just following orders” vibe to it. Also note the “…had to destroy in alignment with their policies.”
If a department or company chooses to make their own policy and then they choose to follow their own policy, it seems like deflection to then blame the policy for their actions as if they “had” to do something and didn’t have a choice.”
I too believe someone at BKC decided this was a good PR move. I’ll never understand why. As for supporting anti-gun democrat politicians - I don’t believe for a second that BKC hasn’t previously considered the reprocussions of how their customer base would react to news of their political support - I do believe they don’t care what we think about it.
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I just hate the donating to anti gun people most of all , its hard to take.
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martymcfly posted:Tim O posted:
A good read...
“it has a very “just following orders” vibe to it. Also note the “…had to destroy in alignment with their policies.”
If a department or company chooses to make their own policy and then they choose to follow their own policy, it seems like deflection to then blame the policy for their actions as if they “had” to do something and didn’t have a choice.”
I too believe someone at BKC decided this was a good PR move. I’ll never understand why. As for supporting anti-gun democrat politicians - I don’t believe for a second that BKC hasn’t previously considered the reprocussions of how their customer base would react to news of their political support - I do believe they don’t care what we think about it.
As for their support of Senator Ron Wyden, who is anti-gun, that really doesn’t bother me. He is an Oregon Senator, so he is theirs and when the Senate was voting on whether an assisted knife is an automatic or not I mentioned to his LD that he great knife companies in his State who make assisted opening knives available across the country and he said, “Do you mean Benchmade.” So not saying their donation to Wyden did it, but his office definitely know who they are. On knife issues, it has probably helped them.
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bm-edc posted:Yet donates tens of thousands of dollars to anti 2a democrats. Unbelievable.
Better than donating to idiots who feel that arming teachers is the correct course of action.
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I don't understand this blanket reaction to what OCPD requested BKC to assist in court ordered destruction of firearms. It is neither unethical nor illegal. It is just many people will act knee jerk that ".. Oh my god, it is against gun rights...." Assisting Law enforcement to do their duty is necessary. The reaction I am seeing is such NIMBY reaction. So, it is OK for unnamed people cutting up, but not for your favorite knife company to assist Law Enforcement?
Yeah, it is your feeling and your money, but my affinity to BKC and products are unchanged.8 -
Granted, I don't consider political contributions "charitable", but this (from BKC website) is misleading:
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I understand it is Oregon City Police Department to destroy then, they are NOT required by state law or the court (unless illegal, no serial number, short barrel, etc.) . If your 2A, why would you assist the Police Department anti 2A policy?
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mobilefirelord posted:
I don't understand this blanket reaction to what OCPD requested BKC to assist in court ordered destruction of firearms. It is neither unethical nor illegal. It is just many people will act knee jerk that ".. Oh my god, it is against gun rights...." Assisting Law enforcement to do their duty is necessary. The reaction I am seeing is such NIMBY reaction. So, it is OK for unnamed people cutting up, but not for your favorite knife company to assist Law Enforcement?
Yeah, it is your feeling and your money, but my affinity to BKC and products are unchanged.I understand it. Outrage culture is very popular at the moment, and is spilling over into every crevice it can find.
I can respect your position, MFL. I mostly share your stance regarding an unwavered affinity regarding BKC products. I’m not about to hop on the wagon and pretend like I haven’t previously given financial support to many businesses with whom my ideals differ greatly.
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It was just posted elsewhere that all political donations were made by BKC employees, not the company itself. Can this be verified? If so, at least the info on their website is truthful.
And while I understand the whole political donations game, I don't necessarily always agree with it.
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THIS is an official statement that I can fully support:
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outed history related to political contributions is certainly a disappointment; still shaking my head at that one...
[@mention:589599268366310467]
however, as of this moment, i'm a bit more focused on whether company intends to continue participating in the act of destroying firearms, irrespective of circumstances. really hoping for further follow up from them on matter.
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nosuchagency posted:
...i'm a bit more focused on whether company intends to continue participating in the act of destroying firearms, irrespective of circumstances. really hoping for further follow up from them on matter.
Same here, but I'm not anticipating it (a follow-up from BKC).
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